Envelope



Dec. 30, 1941. w so 2,268,466

ENVELOPE Filed June 12, 1940 OPEN FROM BACK Patented Dec. 30, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ENVELOPE Edward D. Wilson, Boston, Mass.

Application June 12, 1940, Serial No. 340,184

4 Claims.

It is a well-known fact that a very large part of direct mail advertising matter of the class that is sent in unsealed envelopes, is thrown into the waste basket unopened. A large part of the mail matter of this character is mailed in envelopes having a free end flap that is tucked into the end of the envelope and is not sealed. This unsealed flap permits the ready inspection of the contents of the envelope, so that the postal authorities may ascertain whether the contents are such as to entitle the material to be mailed at the lower postal rates which apply to printed advertising matter.

It is a primary object of the present invention to prevent, as far as possible, the very great loss to which advertisers are subjected when the advertising matter is thrown into the waste basket unopened. To this end the present invention contemplates the provision of an envelope provided with means by which the curiosity of the recipient is challenged so that he may be incited to take the initial step in opening the envelope. Once this initial step has been taken, it would be a logical carrying forward of the act that has been begun for the recipient to completely withdraw the contents of the envelope.

The invention will be better understood by reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is an outer face view of one end of an envelope having the invention applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is a rear face view of said envelope.

Fig. 3 is a rear face view showing the free flap of the present invention withdrawn.

Fig. 4 is a view like Fig. 2 illustrating a modified form adapted to withdraw the contents of the envelope as well as the flap, and with the parts in closed position.

Fig. 5 is a rear view of the structure of Fig. 4 with the flap and contents partially withdrawn, and

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the structure of Figs. 4 and 5.

Like numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawing.

A widely used conventional envelope for mailing printed advertising matter, such as circulars and the like, consists of a front wall 5, overlapping adhesively united rear Wings 6 and l, and a free end flap 8, which, when the envelope is mailed, is merely tucked into the open end of the envelope. The present invention contemplates the provision of a tongue 9 (Figs. 1, 2, and 3). This tongue is formed by slitting the flap 8 along lines l0, and by slitting the front wall of the envelope to form a portion l2, which may be grasped between the thumb and forefinger. The portion i2 constitutes a part of the tongue 9. At each end of the portion 12 the front wall 5 of the envelope is not cut all the way through, so that the portion I2 is left attached to the front wall 5, by weakened lines [3. The tongue is left attached to the flap 8 at its inner end (Fig. 2). Thus, the tongue is sufiiciently attached at l3 and at its inner end that it will maintain its relationship to the flap 8 if the flap should be withdrawn by the postal authorities for inspection in the usual way.

When the envelope reaches the addressee the latter finds printed matter at I 4 directing him to pull upon the tab constituted by the portion 12. When the addressee does this he pulls this tab loose along the weakened lines l3 and the tongue 9 pulls the flap 8 out of the end of the envelope. Having gone this far in the act of opening the envelope it is an almost instinctive act upon the part of the recipient to withdraw the contents of the envelope.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the tongue does no more than withdraw fiap 8. In the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 4, 5 and 6, the main tongue 9 is provided with a secondary tongue 9*. The tongue 9 is formed by cutting the material of the tongue 9 along the lines a, b and 0. Thus the tongue 9 is left attached at its inner end (as indicated at d) to the flap 8, while the secondary tongue 9* is left attached at its inner end to the tongue 9*. The head 9 of the secondary tongue is attached by any suitable adhesive to the contents of the envelope, indicated at l5. Thus when the tongue 53 is pulled outwardly in the same manner as previously disclosed with respect to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the tab I2 is first pulled loose, then the flap 8 is pulled out of the end of the envelope and finally the secondary tongue 9* functions to start the contents out of the envelope and if the tongue 9 is pulled upon enough to tear it loose from flap 8 the pull may be continued far enough to completely withdraw the contents of the envelope.

While the invention has been described in connection with envelopes such as are commonly employed for mailing purposes, I contemplate the use of the invention in any field to which it is applicable. For example, there are numerous small packaged articles such as cigarettes, candy, toothbrush and toothpaste containers, etc., to which the invention may be advantageously applied. Therefore it is to be understood that in this application the term envelope is to be broadly construed to mean any sort of a container provided with means for the withdrawal of the sealing flap in the manner shown and described.

Many ways Will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art, for modifying the disposition of the parts to secure the desired result. Consequently, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the precise construction set forth, but that it includes within its purview whatever changes fairly come Within either the terms or the spirit of the appended claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim is:

1. An envelope comprising a front and rear Wall, a free end closure flap adapted to be tucked in between said front and rear walls, an integral tongue constituting a part of said flap, and struck therefrom, said tongue extending substantially from the free end of said flap to the envelope end, and being attached at its inner end to said flap and being attached along a weakened portion at the envelope end and being there provided with a finger-grasp portion which, when pulled upon, pulls the flap through the medium of said tongue from between the front and rear walls of the envelope.

2. The combination with an envelope of the type comprising a front and rear wall and a free end flap adapted to be tucked into the open end of the envelope for retaining the contents of the envelope without sealing of the flap, of a tongue formed by slitting the material of the flap lengthwise of the envelope to a point terminating short of the inner end of the flap to thereby leave the tongue attached at its inner end to the flap, the outer end of the tongue being provided at the end of the envelope with a portion severed from the front wall of the envelope along the major portion of its width and being left attached to the material of the envelope adjacent the end of said envelope, as and for the purposes set forth.

3. The combination with an envelope of the type comprising a front and rear wall and a free sealing flap adapted to be tucked into the open end of the envelope to retain the contents of the envelope without sealing the same, of a main tongue out from the material of the flap and left attached at its inner end to the material of the flap and comprising a. portion which extends over to the front face of the envelope and is partially, but not entirely, severed from the front face of the envelope, a secondary tongue formed by slitting the material of the first-named tongue, said secondary tongue being left; attached to the first-named tongue at the inner portions of the two tongues, the remainder of the secondary tongue being completely severed from the main tongue through the remainder of its length, and being provided at its outer end with a head portion adapted to receive adhesive by which said head portion is attached to the contents of the envelope.

4. An envelope comprising a front and rear wall, a free closure flap adapted to be tucked in between said front and rear walls, an integral tongue constituting a part of said flap, and struck therefrom, said tongue being attached at its inner end to said flap and being attached along a weakened portion at the envelope end and being there provided with a finger-grasp portion which, when pulled upon, pulls the flap through the medium of said tongue from between the front and rear walls of the envelope, said first-named tongue being provided with an integral secondary tongue, one end of the secondary tongue being provided with means for attaching it to the contents of the envelope as and for the purposes set forth.

EDWARD D. WILSON. 

